Cabinet



Jan. 24, 1961 E. B. MAsoN ETAL 2,969,268

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Emersonjson l Jan. 24, 1961 E. B. MASON ETAL CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Nov. 23, 1954 5. R m m 1N..

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C. w y Y .O Q J @MM 0 WW. ,l Q, w .2 e 0.90 o /9 3 u 1. 6 j 3 4 JCABINET Emerson B. Mason, Western Springs, and Anthony C. De Napoli,Jr., Mount Prospect, Ill., assignors to Motorola, Inc., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of illinois Continuation of application Ser. No. 470,604,Nov. 23, 1954. This application Jan. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 785,998

19 Claims. (Cl, S12-7) This invention relates generally to cabinethousings and more particularly to an improved thin panel knockdowncabinet assembly for television receivers or similar electricalequipment. This application is a continuation of application Serial No.470,604, tiled November 23, 1954, now abandoned.

It is well known that present day cabinets for tele- Vision receiversand similar electrical apparatus must be of considerable size and at thesame time be of sturdy construction to house properly such bulky andheavy equipment. Therefore, it is apparent that storage and shipment ofthese cabinets prior to the time equipment is installed therein becomesa problem for manufacturers of the equipment. A solution is indicated inthe form of a knock-down cabinet, or one which may be handled as acompact group of standard component parts until the time of use as acabinet, at which time the housing may be assembled. However, such acabinet must be capable of expedient assembly and the over-all cost ofassembling and handling should preferably be less than the correspondingcosts of cabinets which are directly assembled. Furthermore, it isnecessary that such a knock-down cabinet be of such construction thatwhen assembled, it forms a sturdy housing and one whichA is attractivein appearance so as to meet the aesthetic re quirements of suchhousings.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved cabinet structure which may be shipped and stored indisassembled form prior to use so as to require but a minimum of space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved knock-downcabinet structure which may be assembled through simple fasteningoperations by workers with but little skill and with but few tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive cabinetstructure for television receivers or the like, the parts of which maybe formed from inexpensive stock material which need not meet closedimensional tolerances, and which when assembled provide a sturdyhousing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedknock-down television cabinet structure util-izing preiinished materialwhich when assembled provides an attractive cabinet.

A still further object of the invention is to p-rovide a knock-downtelevision cabinet which may be assembled by operating substantiallyentirely from within the structure so as to minimize the possibility ofdamage or marring at such time.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a cabinet structureutilizing corner clamping members to secure adjacent enclosing panels inixed relation to provide a rigid assembly thereof.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of clamping membersfor a knock-down television receiver cabinet which include an outercorner member overlying adjacent enclosing panels and an inner clampingmember to press the panels in fixed position against the 2,969,263Patented Jan. 24, 1961 corner member. The inner member may be securedentirely from within the cabinet so that the screws or other fastenermeans are hidden and also to lessen the possibility of damage to thecabinet during assembly.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a knock-downtelevision cabinet structure with thin flat panel walls secured bycorner clamping members and further strengthened and held against bowingby a front frame having a channel therein to receive the panels andconnected to the picture tube mask and protective glass. The at panelshave no glue blocks or other projections so the panels may betransported and stored in a minimum of space.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such acabinet structure wherein spring-type inner clamping members are used sothat they may be snapped into place and apply resilient pressure topanels to hold the same in assembled condition, thereby simplifying andexpediting assembly.

A still further feature of the invention isthe provision of such aknock-down cabinet structure in which bottom struts extend betweencertain corner clamping members to form supports for a televisionreceiver chassis contained within the cabinet.

Further objects, features and the attending advantages thereof will beapparent upon consideration of the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a television cabinet constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the back of the frame of the cabinet ofFig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3'of Fig. 1 showing thecorner detail;

Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the corner detail of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cut away view of a corner of the cabinet frame ofFig. 2, along the line S-5g Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the linev6-46 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an alternate construction of the frameshown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of theback panel fastening;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an alternate construction of the cabinetof Fig. l;

Fig. 10 is a cut away view of an alternate construction of the bottompanel of the cabinet;

Figs. 11-16 are sectional views of an alternate construction of thecorner details of the cabinet;

Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate resilient securing members employed in thestructure 0f Fig. 14; and

Fig. 19 illustrates a console television cabinet `in accordance with theinvention.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a cabinet structureespecially adapted for television receivers which structure may behandled as a compact group of component parts and then easily assembled.Comparatively dat thin panel members serve to enclose the cabinet, andthey are maintained in iixed relation by corner clamping members at thejunctions of adjacent panels. The clamping members include an outer mem#ber with gripping sections overlying edge portions of adjacent panelsand an inner clamping member to engage panels and retain them firmlyagainst the outer member. In order to insure tenacous retention of apanel, the inner and outer members and/or the panel may be shaped toprovide interlocking action. The inner member may be directly secured tothe outer member, eg. by screws, or the inner member may be resilientand secures the panel and the outer member through frictional engagementin corresponding grooves in these parts.

The cabinet also includes a front frame structure secured to the cornermembers and having a channel groove or support ledge therein, and mayinclude an inwardly slanted retainer projection to retain panels held inthe groove and prevent bowing thereof. A rear frame may be provided tosupport a Iback enclosing panel which further strengthens the structure,or a back panel may Vbe directly connected to the panels and cornerstructure to enclose and strengthen the cabinet. The cabinet bottomstructure may be formed by a plate which supports the chassis of thehoused apparatus, or may :be a panel secured to the side panels bycorner structures with vstruts extending across the bottom of thecabinet to support the apparatus.

The cabinet will now be described in the form of a television receiverhousing, but it will be apparent that the structure employed may beutilized for different types of equipment. The cabinet of Fig. lincludes a top panel 10, a bottom panel 12 and side panels 13 and 14.These panels m-ay be formed of any suitable sheet ma- -terial such asfiber board, plywood, plastic o-r metal. Corner clamping structures 16are employed at the juncture of these various panels in order to securethem in xed relation. A four-sided front frame 18 is also provided withthe control panel 2t) forming the bottom side of the frame 18. A flange21 extends around the interior of the front frame and may be used tosupport protective glass and a mask for the television picture tube.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the cabinet Vframe of Fig. 1without any of the enclosing panels. In this view it may be seen that arear frame 24 is secured to the clamping members and that this frame hasan angle shaped cross-section thus providing a ange 25 which may securea rear panel. Rear frame 24 aso includes a channel member 27 extendingalong the lower side thereof, and this channel may be used to supportthe bottom panel 12. A pair of support struts Btl extend between thebottom pair of corner clamping members 16 and are used to support achassis within the cabinet. A series of lugs 31 around frame 24 areemployed to engage the top and side panels to hold the 'sameintermediate the corners to prevent the panels from bowing.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the corner clamping member 16, and it maybe seen to consist of an outer member 36 with sections thereof overlyingportions of the top panel 10 and the side panel 13 with serrations orteeth in such sections in order to engage corresponding teeth in thepanel. The panel may be rabbeted so that the corners are flush topresent a neat appearance. An inner clamping member 3S is then securedto the outer member 36 by means of a suitable fastener 4t) which engagesa supporting strip 42 secured between the sides of outer member 36 bybrazing or welding. Therefore, it may be seen that the panels aresandwiched or clamped between the inner and outer members in such a wayas to resist any tendency for pulling7 apart. In this manner the top,side and bottom panels are secured to one another. The clamping membermay be formed of some suitabie metal and the outside of member 36becomes a trim strip of the completed cabinet.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate construction for thecorner members 16 which may be seen to be similar to Fig. 3 except thatthe outer member 44 is a solid one-piece member rather than a hollowtwopiece member. This form of the outer member is shown merely by way ofan example of a modificati-on of the invention, and it is apparent thatthe two constructions are interchangeable. The sectional view of Fig. 4also illustrates an inner member or flange 4S which is secured to theouter member 44 by the self-tapping screw 46. The flange 45 may includebent up end brackets 48 secured by screws 47 to the front or backstructure of the cabinet.

The cut-away View of Fig. 5 shows a portion of front frame 18 and thefastening of the corner member 16 thereto by means of an angle bracket48 which is bent up from the inner clamping member 45. Similar anglebrackets may be used at the other corners for securing the front frame13 Iand back frame 25. It may be seen that frame 18 has a U-shapedcross-section with a flange por-tion 21 extending therefrom and with aninwardly slanted retainer projection 50 extending Aat an angle withinthe U-shaped frame as a catch for the panel. Thus a panel supported bythe corner clamping member 16 may also be held in the channel groove ofthe U-shaped frame and be secured against the outer side of the frame bythe projection 59. Control panel 2t) may be secured to the front frame18 by any suitable means such as welding or screws, and has a lowerright-angled section 52 which aids in the support of the bottom panel12.

The top and side sections of the front frame 1S may be of the sameconstruction -as is apparent from consideration of the cross-sectionalView of the top of frame 18 in Fig. 6. 1t may be seen that angleprojection Si! tends to maintain the top panel 1t) within the channelprovided by the frame 18 which at the same time taking up for anytolerances of the panel thickness so that the panel is held againstrattling or bowing. Fig. 6 also shows a U-shaped strip 54 which issecured to the frame 18 in order to clamp the protective glass 56 andthe picture tube mask 53 against flange 21. It is also possible to alterthe construction of the frame 18 -as is shown by frame 18a in Fig. 7. Inthis alternative construction the section 50 of Fig. 6 has been extendedin a direction parallel to the top panel 10 and at a distance equal tothe thickness of the panel 10 from the outer portion of the frame 18a soas -to provide a channel or support ledge affording maximum support forthis panel.

Fig. 8 shows in detail the method of attaching the panels 12, 13 and 14to the back frame 24. It may be seen that the small lugs 31 are set intothe edges of the various panels to prevent bowing thereof and that theledge 25 forms a convenient fastening for the back panel 80.

Figs. 9 and 10 show another embodiment ofthe cabinet including amodification of the structure of the front frame and a different bottomconstruction. In this version it may be seen that the cross-section ofthe frame consists of a pair of perpendicular channel sections formedfrom a single strip of flat material. A first channel 70 supports thetop panel 10 and a second channel 72 forms a flange to which the picturetube mask 58 and the glass retaining member 73 are secured to clamp theprotective glass 56.

A retainer section 74 is also provided in order to maintain panel 10within the channel 70. A front frame of this type is advantageous inthat it may be formed of a single strip of material without thenecessity of welding or brazing the section 21 (Fig. 6) to the frame inorder to form the ange 5t). In the version shown in Fig. 9 the mask ofthe picture tube cooperates with the retainer section 74, not only toretain the protective glass 56 but also to strengthen the front frame18h at the corners since the mask may be secured to such frame atadjacent sides thereof. Actually the mask may form the sole supportingmeans for the sides of the front frame to eliminate other securingthereof. The back frame is eliminated in this embodiment and the backpanel 94 is secured to the corner structures as by bracket 48 in Fig. 4.Additional securing brackets 84 may be provided for interconnecting theback panel with the top and side panels intermediate the corners of thecabinet.

In order to render the structure less expensive, a metal bottom platemay be used instead of a panel secured by corner members with supportingstruts secured thereto. The plate 90 has upturned sides such as 91 and92, forming flanges to which the back panel 94 and the side panels 95may be secured by screws 96. Such an arrangement would provide retentionof the lower portions of the enclosing panels as well as'an enclosurefor the bottom, all by means of the single panel 90, and also serves asa support for the chassis. The placing of outside screws at the bottomedge of the panel is not objectionable as they are not easily seen. Theplate may have a raised portion 97 for supporting a chassis with louvers98 therein for providing ventilation. The chassis may be assembled andtested on the bottom plate prior to the assembling of the enclosingpanels therewith. Legs 99 may be secured to the bottom plate 90 forsupporting the cabinet and apparatus therein.

Additional modifications for securing the panels together by the use ofcorner members are shown in Figs. 11-16 inclusive. It is to be pointedout that these corner constructions can be used when the panels extendat other angles than 90 as shown.

-In Fig. 11, panels 60 are secured by a corner structure including outermember 61 and inner member 62. The outer member 61 and the panels 60have slanting interlocking configurations so that when the inner memberis secured against the panels, secure connection of the panels isprovided. As illustrated the surface of the outer member 61 is flushwith the surfaces of the panels 60.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modification of the corner clamping member inwhich the panels 63 are not rabbeted and the outer member 64 istherefore not flush with panels. Furthermore, the inner member 65 is astraight member, the angular ends of which press panels 63 into secureengagement with the outer member. The panels 63 and both the innermember 65 and outer member 64 are serrated to provide secureinterlocking action.

Fig. 13 shows a pair of panels 100 and 101 clamped against serratedportions of outer member 103 by a pair of split tubular members 106. Aportion of outer member 103 extends within the cabinet and between thepanels 100 and 101 as an inward projection so that the tubular members106 may be forced into opposing arcuate portions or grooves cut fromthis projection of the outer member and from portions of the panels inorder to provide the clamping action against the outer member 103.Therefore, it may be seen that the assembling operation will besimplified since it is merely necessary to force the split tubularmembers 106, which have a certain amount of resilience, into thepreviously formed arcuate portions. Angle brackets such as bracket 108may be used at the corners of the clamping structure in order to securethe same to the front and rear frames.

The corner construction illustrated in Fig. 14 utilizes resilientsecuring members 112 of a different construction, such as illustrated inFigs. 17 and 18, in order to retain panels 110 in engagement with theouter member 111. It may be seen that there is in effect a pair ofperpendicular channels 113 in the outer member 111 into which portionsof the panels 110 are inserted. Oppositely positioned seating notches orgrooves in each panel and in the sides of channels 113 are utilized toretain the resilient securing members 112. These members may be in theform of resilient spring strips, or strips having lateral displacements-along the axis, as illustrated, and may be installed by pulling themthrough their respective seating notches while the cabinet componentsare maintained in position by means of a suitable jig. By utilizing thisform of corner clamping device, or the type illustrated in Figs. 13 to16, it is possible to do away with the bolts or screws necessary withthe type illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 11 and 12.

The resilient inner members of Figs. 15 and 16 are similar to thoseshown in Fig. 13 except that in these versions the members are integraland formed from a single strip of resilient material by rolling the twoedges thereof. The resilient member 120 shown in Fig. l5 may then havean integral flange 121 at the end thereof which is used to secure thefront frame thereto. The resilient member 124 of Fig. 16 also shows anangle bracket 125 for the same purpose.

In Fig. 19 there is illustrated a console television cabinet ofknock-down construction in accordance with the invention. In thisstructure the front frame extends all the way from the top to the bottomof the cabinet. Top panels 131, side panels 132 and bottom panel 133 areall interconnected by corner structures 135 which may be in accordancewith any of the various embodiments illustrated. A back panel 134 isprovided which may be secured to the remaining parts of the cabinet in amanner previously described. A control panel 136 and a mask structure137 may be provided as has been previously illustrated. In thisconstruction a chassis supporting plate 138 is supported on brackets 139secured through the bottom panel 133 to supporting legs 140.Accordingly, the weight of the chassis is supported through the brackets139 directly by the legs 140 and the bottom panel need not besufficiently strong to support the chassis. A bafiie plate 141 isprovided for a loud speaker 142, which bafe plate may be secured to theange of the front panel 130.

It will be obvious that the console construction of Fig. 19 may bemodified in accordance with Various other constructions illustrated inthe application. The bottom plate 133 may have upturned edges forsecuring the same to the side and back panels to thereby eliminate thebottom corner structures 135. Also the loudspeaker baffle 141 may beconstructed of a sufiiciently strong material to eliminate the frontbrackets 139 if this is desired.

It is apparent that the described cabinet structure is composed of partswhich may all be produced in finished form and handled and storedconveniently prior to assembly for housing of electrical equipment.Furthermore, the design is such that many of the fastening operationswill be carried on from within the cabinet structure so as to minimizethe possibility of marring the exterior ofthe cabinet, but yet thecomponents need not be constructed to particularly close tolerancessince the panel edges are all contained Within comparatively wide slotsand only a minimum of fitting of the cabinet framework is necessary. vThe invention provides, therefore, a knock-down cabinet structure fortelevision equipment or the like which may be assembled at a point ofuse to form a sturdy yet attractive cabinet housing.

We claim:

1. A housing structure for enclosing a television receiVer including incombination, a unitary four-sided front frame with a channel groovehaving a retainer projection in at least three of the sides thereof, aplurality of at least` three rectangular enclosing panels having endsdisposed in said channel groove and retained by said projection, a backframe, a plurality of corner clamping means secured to said front frameand said back frame, said clamping means each including an elongatedouter corner member with serrated sections overlying and contactingportions of two adjacent panels and an elongated inner clamping memberin fixed relation with said outer corner member and engaging at leastone of said panels to clamp the same directly against a serrated sectionof said outer member, and a strut member extending between a pair ofcorner clamping means for. supporting an article to be housed withinsaid structure.

2. A housing structure for enclosing a television receiver including incombination, a unitary four-sided front frame with a channel groovehaving an inwardly slanted projection in at least three of the sidesthereof, said frame defining a screen-viewing opening with flangeportions thereabout for supporting a television receiver component aplurality of at least three rectangular enclosing panels having endsdisposed in said channel groove and retained by said projection, aplurality of corner clamping means secured to said front frame forfastening adjacent panels to one another, said clamping means includingan outer member with serrated sections overlying and contacting portionsof two adjacent panels and an inner clamping member in fixed relationwith said outer member and engaging Vby direct contact at vleast one ofsaid panels to clamp the same directly against a serrated section ofsaid outer member.

3. A housing structure 4for a television receiver including incombination, a rectangular front frame dening a screen viewing openingand having integral top and side portions with support grooves therein,a retainer projection in said support groove, top and side enclosingpanels of compressible -iibrous .material having ends disposed in saidsupport groove and retained by said projection, a pair of cornerclamping means secured to said front frame for fastening said top panelto said 'side panels, said clamping means including an outer member withserrated sections overlying and contacting portions of the adjacentpanels and an inner clamping member in iixed relation with said outermember and engaging said panels directly opposite said serrated sectionsto clamp the same against said serrated sections of said outer member,la bottom plate for supporting articles to be housed and including edgeportions secured to said front frame and to said side panels, and a backpanel for said housing structure secured to said corner clamping meansand vto said bottom plate.

4. A cabinet for enclosing a television receiver including incombination, a unitary four-sided front frame with the sides having achannel groove, a plurality of enclosing panels with edges disposed insaid channel groove, and clamping lmeans securing adjacent panels to oneanother, said clamping means including an outer corner member withextended serrated sections overlying and contacting portions of twoenclosing panels at a corner of said cabinet, and an inner clampingstrip fastened to said outer member and having opposite edges engagingsaid two enclosing panels directly opposite said serrated sections forpressing said portions of said two enclosing panels into xed relationagainst said extended serrated sections of said outer member.

5. A housing structure for a television receiver including incombination, a bottom structure for supporting receiver components andincluding edge portions, a front structure including a mask having ascrew viewing opening and a frame having integral top and side portionswith support grooves therein, top 4and side enclosing panels of fibrousmaterial having edges supported in said support grooves, said frontstructure and said side panels being secured to said edge portions ofsaid bottom structure, a pair of corner clamping means secured to saidframe of said front structure -for fastening said top panel to said sidepanels, said clamping means including an outer member with clampingsections overlying and contacting edges of the adjacent panels and aninner clamping member in fixed relation with said outer member andhaving clamping sections engaging said edges of said panels directlyopposite said clamping sections of said outer member, said edges of saidpanels and said clamping sections of one of said members engaging thesame having coniigurations to provide locking action therebetween, and aback panel for the housing structure secured to said corner clampingmeans and to said bottom structure.

6. A housing structure for a television receiver including incombination, a bottom structure for supporting receiver components andincluding edge portions, a front structure including a mask portionhaving a screen viewing opening and a frame portion having integral topand side sections with support grooves therein, top and side enclosingpanels of fibrous material having -edges supported in said supportgrooves, a pair of corner clamping means secured to said frame portionfor fastening said top panel to said side panels, each of said clampingmeans including an outer member with clamping sections over lying andcontacting edge portions of the adjacent panels and inner clamping meansin fixed relation with said outer member and having clamping portionsengaging said panels directly opposite said clamping sections of saidouter member, said edge portions of said panels being recessed toreceive said clamping sections of said outer .member whereby asubstantialiy flush outer surface is provided, said recessed edgeportions of said panels and said clamping sections of said outer membershaving configurations to provide locking action therebetween, said front'frame structure and said side panels being secured to said edgeportions of said bottom structure, and a back panel for the housingstructure secured to said corner clamping means and to said bottomstructure.

7. A housing structure for a television receiver including incombination, a unitary front structure defining a screen viewing openingand having top and side frame portions with support grooves therein, topand side enclosing panels of fibrous material having ends supported insaid support grooves, a pair of corner clamping means for fastening saidtop panel to said side panels, said clamping means each including anouter member with clamping sections overlying and contacting edgeportions of the adjacent panels and an inner clamping member in fixedrelation with said outer member and having clamping sections engagingsaid panels directly opposite said clamping sections of said outermember, said edge portions Vof said panels having recesses therein withslanting surfaces and said clamping sections having slanting surfacesengaging said slanting surfaces of said recesses to provide lockingaction therebetween, a bottom structure including edge portions securedto said front structure and to said side panels, and a back panel forthe housing structure secured to said corner clamping means and to Saidbottom structure.

8. A cabinet structure including in combination, an integral front framestructure with a top portion and a side portion each having a channelgroove therein, a plurality of enclosing panels with edges disposed insaid channel grooves, and clamping means securing adjacent panels to oneanother, said clamping means including an outer corner member withextended sections overlying and contacting edge portions of twoenclosing panels at a corner of said cabinet, and inner clamping meansfastened to said outer member and having opposite portions engaging saidtwo enclosing panels directly opposite said extended sections forpressing said edge portions of said two enclosing panels into xedrelation against said extended sections of said outer member, saidextended sections of said outer member and said edge portions of saidenclosing panels having complementary shaped surfaces to provide lockingaction therebetween.

9. A cabinet for enclosing a television receiver including incombination, a unitary four-sided front frame with a channel groove inthe sides thereof, a plurality of enclosing panels with edges disposedin said channel groove, and clamping means securing adjacent panels toone another, said clamping means including an outer member with serratedsections overlying edge portions of two enclosing panels at a juncturethereof, said outer member having an inward projection extending betweensaid two enclosing panels, said projection having grooves on each sidethereof, and a pair of resilient slotted tubular members, one directlyengaging each of said two enclosing panels directly opposite saidserrated sections and a groove of said inward projection for retainingsaid edge portions of said two enclosing panels in engagement with saidserrated sections of said outer member.

10. In a knock-down cabinet assembly which includes enclosing panelshaving grooves along the edge portions thereof, the corner clampingdevice for securing the edge portions of adjacent panels including incombination, an elongated outer member having serrated sectionsoverlying the edge portions of the panels opposite said grooves, andsaid outer member having an inwardly projecting portion extendingbetween the panels with grooves extending along the sides thereof, and apair of resilient slotted tubular members engaging the grooves of theedge portions of the panels and said grooves of said inwardly projectingportion for clamping the panels against said lserrated sections of saidouter member.

11. A housing structure for enclosing aV television receiver includingin combination, a unitary four-sided front structure having a frame witha channel groove in at least three sides thereof, at least threerectangular enclosing panels having edges disposed in said channelgroove, corner clamping means secured to said front frame for fasteningadjacent panels to one another, said clamping means each including anouter member with clamping sections overlying and contacting edgeportions of two adjacent panels, said edge portions of said panelshaving inner grooves located opposite said clamping sections, said outermember having an extended portion disposed between said two adjacentpanels, and elongated resilient inner clamping means having portionsengaging said extended portion of said outer member and directlyengaging said two adjacent panels in said inner grooves thereof forretaining said edge portions of the same against said clamping sectionsof said outer member.

l2. A rectangular cabinet for enclosing a television receiver includingin combination, a front frame having at least integral three Sides witha channel groove therein, a plurality of enclosing panels with edgesdisposed in said channel groove, and clamping means securing adjacentpanels to one another, said clamping means including an elongated outermember with channels therein disposed in perpendicular relation withrespect to each other, edge portions of adjacent panels being disposedin said channels, one side of each of said channels having a surface forengaging an edge portion of a panel, said edge portion of said panelsand the other sides of said channels having opposing grooves, andelongated retaining strips having laterally displaced resilient portionstherealong and being disposed in said opposing grooves for pressing saidenclosing panels against said channel surfaces, said channel surfacesand said edge portions of said panels having configurations to provideinterlocking action therebetween to retain said edge portions of saidpanels within said channels.

13. A console cabinet for a television receiver including incombination, a unitary rectangular front frame having a top portiondefining a screen viewing opening and a bottom portion providing for theemission of sound, said frame having a support groove at the top andsides thereof, top and side enclosing panels having edges disposed insaid support groove, a bottom panel secured to said front frame, cornerclamping means secured to said front frame for interconnecting saidpanels, said corner clamping means including an outer member withserrated sections overlying and contacting portions of adjacent panelsand an inner clamping member in xed relation with said outer member andengaging said panels directly opposite said serrated sections to clampthe same against said outer member, a back panel for said cabinetsecured to said corner clamping means, supporting legs connected to-said bottom panel of said cabinet, a supporting plate intermediate saidtop panel and said bottom panel for supporting television receivercomponents, and supporting means interconnecting said supporting plateand said support legs.

14. A console cabinet for a television receiver including incombination, an integral rectangular front frame having a top portiondefining a screen viewing opening and a bottom portion providing for theemission of sound, said frame having a support groove at the top andsides thereof, top and side enclosing panels having edges disposed insaid support groove, a pair of corner clamping means secured to saidfront frame for fastening said top panel to said side panels, saidclamping means including an outer member with serrated sectionsoverlying and contacting portions of adjacent panels and an innerclamping member in fixed relation with said outer member and engagingsaid panels directly opposite said serrated sections to clamp the sameagainst said outer member, a bottom plate for said cabinet includingedge portions secured to said front frame and to said side panels,

a supporting plate Isecured to said bottom plate for supportingtelevision receiver components, and back panel means for said cabinetsecured to said corner clamping means and to said supporting plate.

l5. A console cabinet for a television receiver including incombination, a unitary rectangular front structure having a top portiondefining a screen viewing opening and a bottom portion providing for theemission of sound, said front structure including a frame having asupport groove at the top and sides thereof, top and side enclosingpanels having edges disposed in said support groove, a bottom structuresecured to said front structure and to said side panels, corner clampingmeans for interconnecting said panels and including an outer member withclamping sections overlying and contacting portions of adjacent panelsand inner clamping means, in fixed relation with said outer member andengaging said panels directly opposite said clamping sections to clampsaid panels against said outer member, the engaging surfaces of saidclamping sections and said panels having configurations to provideinterlocking action when said panels are clamped against said clampingsections, supporting legs connected to said bottom structure of saidcabinet, a supporting structure intermediate said top panel and saidbottom structure for supporting television receiver components,supporting means interconnecting said supporting structure and saidsupport legs, and a back panel for said cabinet secured to said cornerclamping means and to said supporting structure.

16. A console cabinet for a television receiver including incombination, a supporting structure for supporting television receivercomponents, a rectangular front structure including a mask portionhaving a screen viewing opening and a portion providing for the emissionof sound, said front structure including an integral frame having asupport groove at the top and sides thereof, -a top and two sideenclosing panels having edges disposed in said support groove, a pair ofcorner clamping means secured to said frame for fastening said top panelto said side panels, said clamping means including an outer member withclamping sections overlying and contacting edge portions of adjacentpanels and an inner member in fixed relation with said outer member andhaving clamping sections engaging said panels directly opposite saidclamping sections of said outer members to clamp said panels againstsaid outer member, said edge portions of said panels and said clampingsections of one of said inner and outer members having engaging surfacesproviding interlocking action therebetween, said front structure andsaid side panels being connected to said supporting structure, and backpanel means for said cabinet secured to said corner clamping means andto said supporting structure.

17. A housing structure for electronic apparatus including incombination, a supporting frame, a rectangular front frame secured tosaid supporting frame and having integral top and side portions withsupport grooves therein, top and side enclosing panels having edgesdisposed in said support grooves, said side portions including retainingmeans for holding panels positioned in said grooves, a pair of cornerclamping means secured to said front frame for fastening said top panelto said side panels, each of said clamping means including an elongatedouter member with engaging sections overlying and contacting edgeportions of the adjacent panels and inner clamping means having engagingsections contacting said panels directly opposite said engaging sectionsof said outer member, said inner clamping means havjng portionsconcealed within the housing structure and engaging said outer member todraw said engaging sections together to clamp said edge portions of saidpanels therebetween, at least one of said engaging sections having anirregular locking surface contacting said panel, said supporting frameincluding portions secured to said side panels, and a back panel for thehousing structure se- 11 cured to said corner clamping means and to saidsupport'- ing frame.

18. A housing structure for a television receiver including incombination, a unitary rectangular front frame defining a screen viewingopening and having top and side portions with supporting channel groovestherein, top and side enclosing panels having edges disposed in saidchannel grooves and supported thereby, a pair of corner clamping meanssecured to said front frame for fastening said top panel to said sidepanels, said clamping means including an elongated outer member `withgripping sections overlying and contacting portions of the adjacentpanels and an elongated inner clamping member in xed relation With saidouter member and engaging said panels directly opposite said grippingsections to clamp said panels thereagainst, said gripping seetions ofsaid outer member and said portions of said panels contacted therebyhaving configurations to provide locking action therebetween, bottomsupporting means for the housing structure including edge portionssecured to said front frame and to said side panels, and a back panelfor said housing structure secured to said corner clamping means and tosaid bottom supporting means.

12 19. A housing structure in accordance with claim 18 wherein saidclamping means includes removable means concealed within the housingstructure for securing said inner clamping member in fixed relation Withsaid outer member.

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